Chalky Tournament this year (so far)

[MSUDC11-2.0]

There were exactly 0 upsets involving 1-4 seeds losing in the first round. Only the fifth time in 40 years that has been the case. And every single Top 16 seed won by at least 9, so nobody was that close to losing.

Sets up some interesting second round and second weekend matchups, though, What happens many years is the big upsets early are fun but then it gets less interesting after the first round when all the big dogs are gone. This year, all the big dogs survived the initial wave.

 

[bulldoghair]

Effects of NIL and transfer portal. It has killed the soul of the tournament.
One of the most boring round first rounds in recent memory.

 

[MSUDC11-2.0]

I mean there were some pretty big upsets both of the last two years which were very much in the portal and NIL era, so I’m not ready to proclaim the tournament is dead.

 

[BulldogBlitz]

I'm glad we could present an upset.**

 

[anon1758050382]

I correctly picked 21 of 32 first round games, a “man of culture.”

 

[Dawgzilla2]

Our old office tournament pool always included "NCAA" as a participant, which was a fake entry that just picked the higher seed in every slot. We had to fudge a bit in the Final Four, but it was just a way for people to see how their bracket compared to "chalk".

We also had "Mr. Coin Toss", who was a legit entry, but never really threatened to win.

 

[jethreauxdawg]

Our old office tournament pool always included "NCAA" as a participant, which was a fake entry that just picked the higher seed in every slot. We had to fudge a bit in the Final Four, but it was just a way for people to see how their bracket compared to "chalk".

We also had "Mr. Coin Toss", who was a legit entry, but never really threatened to win.

So how did “chalk” do?

 

[BulldogBlitz]

Our old office tournament pool always included "NCAA" as a participant, which was a fake entry that just picked the higher seed in every slot. We had to fudge a bit in the Final Four, but it was just a way for people to see how their bracket compared to "chalk".

We also had "Mr. Coin Toss", who was a legit entry, but never really threatened to win.

96, it was me versus chalk in the office pool. People who didn't know me came to my office to ask how I had msu in the final four. I would point to the bell on the shelf. I would have raked too had we beaten Syracuse, because we were beating Kentucky again.

 

[Dawgzilla2]

96, it was me versus chalk in the office pool. People who didn't know me came to my office to ask how I had msu in the final four. I would point to the bell on the shelf. I would have raked too had we beaten Syracuse, because we were beating Kentucky again.

Same for me. I was the only person in our pool who had more than 2 of the Final Four correct, and I got phone calls from the two guys in the lead at the point wanting to know my secret, and curious who I had winning the last 3 games.

If State had won it all I would have taken home the trophy. But I had picked several upsets in order to get State to the top, so I finished out of the money.

 

[Dawgzilla2]

So how did “chalk” do?

"NCAA" was usually in the upper third of the standings, but never a serious threat to win.

Ours was a big pool, with over 250 entries at $5 per. Entrants were limited to 2 brackets; if you wanted more you had to use another employee's name. In our experience, people with multiple brackets usually got similar results from each, so there wasnt much point to it.

The most fun was writing up a summary for everyone each Monday of the tournament. We would list where everyone stood, provide stats on how many people had X number of teams still active, and make fun of people who did mindless things like pick a winner who wasn't even playing in the game (this was back when brackets were filled out by hand).

And just about every year we had to.invent new rules for the future, like what to do if someone picked "UM" to win the Michigan-Miami game.

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

I understand why the referees are deciding to let them play, but they're letting Connecticut beat up Florida today. I'm not saying that Florida hasn't made their share of fouls, too, but not nearly as many as Connecticut is committing. If Connecticut starts making those three-point shots, it is gonna be a long game for Florida.

 

[patdog]

"NCAA" was usually in the upper third of the standings, but never a serious threat to win.

Ours was a big pool, with over 250 entries at $5 per. Entrants were limited to 2 brackets; if you wanted more you had to use another employee's name. In our experience, people with multiple brackets usually got similar results from each, so there wasnt much point to it.

The most fun was writing up a summary for everyone each Monday of the tournament. We would list where everyone stood, provide stats on how many people had X number of teams still active, and make fun of people who did mindless things like pick a winner who wasn't even playing in the game (this was back when brackets were filled out by hand).

And just about every year we had to.invent new rules for the future, like what to do if someone picked "UM" to win the Michigan-Miami game.

That sounds about right. In a straight-up (not point spread) pool, if all you do is pick favorites, you'll be somewhere near the top, but you'll never win. You have to pick a few upsets and get them right. But if you pick too many upsets, there's no way you'll get enough right and you'll be nearer the bottom than the top. It's a tricky balance.

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

These announcers are really in love with Connecticut.

Love how the Florida guy made a foul for falling on his face.

 

[BulldogBlitz]

Flarda is just taking this game. Uconn cannot stop it from happening.

 

[MSUDC11-2.0]

Really good game. Florida just took it over in the last 4 minutes.

 

[BulldogBlitz]

Ggood thing we didn't win Friday. This game wouldn't have any viewers in Mississippi because the baseball game will be at the same time. That's how much jans is looking out for the other teams in the athletic department